March 30, 2023

saying goodbye

My husband and I had an opportunity to travel back to London on spring break this year. Our chief motivation was to visit our daughter who is studying and working abroad in London this semester. London is such an amazing city! You could spend weeks touring all the magical places and STILL have much more to see and do. It was a priority for me this trip to return to Windsor Castle to say goodbye to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.

While I am not British, I do consider myself a Royalist supporter (or at least I was of Queen Elizabeth II). I greatly admire her dedication to a job she did not wish to have, and yet committed her entire life to the service of others for her country. By reigning nearly 71 years she became the United Kingdom’s longest ruling monarch. For me she symbolized dignity and grace while remaining a compassionate leader with a great sense of humor. She faced criticism during her reign of course, but I think most would not argue how hard she worked to remain steadfast in her calling and leadership. For me, she was the ultimate GIRL BOSS!

We visited Windsor Castle in summer of 2023 and fell in love with this beautiful city not too far from London’s hustle and bustle. It is only a short 35 minute train ride from London with one train change in Slough. Once you disembark the train, you find yourself in a delightful retail area filled with high end shopping and quaint eateries. Just past this, the Windsor Castle greets you in the foreground immediately. It is the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world and has been the family home of British kings and queens for almost 1,000 years. It is perched on a hill above the lovely city of Windsor where you can take in sweeping vistas of the countryside and city. Taking a tour is well-worth a 1/2 day spent in Windsor, but there is plenty more to do if you’d like to spend an entire day. Eton is also very close.

Our favorite part of the visit is watching the changing of the guard which takes place three days per week at 11:00 am. It is a more intimate experience than watching the one at Buckingham Palace in London. The Evensong services are free to the community and do not require a ticket for entry in the evenings. However, tour tickets may be purchased on site, and I highly recommend purchasing tickets ahead of time to avoid longer queues. Tickets are timed entries.

We also love walking through St. George’s Chapel and silently meditating on its beauty, taking a minute to reflect, and give thanks. It was completed in 1528. Many royals are buried in vaults within the chapel. Among those buried there in addition to Queen Elizabeth II are: the late Queen’s husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, her parents and grandparents, Henry VIII and his 3rd wife Jane Seymour and more. Prior to the late Queen’s interment at St. George’s Chapel, guests were permitted to take photos however, since her burial , cameras are not allowed. Guests may walk past her grave and pay last respects. The guards keep everyone moving briskly along. Regardless of the quiet rush, saying farewell to someone whom I always loved and cherished from afar felt like a poignant and exceptional gift.